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Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is an important part of many students’ senior secondary education. Students can do VET in Year 10 or as part of the VCE, including the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Pathways Certificate.

By including VET in their senior secondary program, students develop industry-specific knowledge and skills, as well as general skills they need for success in future employment, training, and further education. Nationally accredited VET courses are designed and taught by industry experts and are delivered by accredited Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and government owned Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes.

Why choose VET?

Studying a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course offers several benefits:

  • Practical Skills: VET courses focus on hands-on learning, equipping students with industry-specific skills that are directly applicable to the workforce.
  • Career Pathways: Completing a VET course can lead to employment opportunities in priority industries such as health, construction, digital technologies, and hospitality.
  • Flexible Learning: Students can study VET alongside their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), gaining both academic and vocational qualifications.
  • Industry Recognition: VET qualifications are nationally recognised, meaning students can use them to secure jobs or further education across Australia.
  • Pathways to Further Study: Many VET courses provide credits towards university degrees or higher-level qualifications, making them a stepping-stone for future education.

Qualification Levels

Each VET qualification can be a first step towards a new job or a new skill, or a pathway to further study. Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses may also provide study credit towards a higher education (university level) degree. Within Secondary Schools a range of Certificate I, Certificate II and Certificate III courses are delivered.

Certificate I – Equivalent to Year 10
  • Full-time Duration: 4 to 6 months
  • Career outcome: Competent operator
Certificate II – Equivalent to Year 11
  • Full-time Duration: About 1 year
  • Career outcome: Advanced operator
Certificate III – Equivalent to Year 12
  • Full-time Duration: About 1 year
  • Career outcome: Qualified tradesperson or technician
Certificate IV – Post Secondary
  • Duration: 12 to 18 months
  • Career outcome: Supervisor
Diploma – Post Secondary
  • Duration: 18 to 24 months
  • Career outcome: Paraprofessional
Advanced Diploma – Post Secondary
  • Duration: 24 to 36 months
  • Career outcome: Junior manager

How does VET contribute to the VCE?

VET may contribute to the VCE at the Units 1 and 2 or Units 3 and 4 level and may also contribute to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

How does VET contribute to the VCE VM?

VET contributes to the VCE VM through satisfying the requirements of the certificate. Students must complete at least 180 hours of VET studies to receive the VCE VM.

VET qualifications offer a pathway into Apprenticeships, Certificate and Diploma Courses after completion.

To learn more about VET visit https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/studentguides/getvet/Pages/Index.aspx

Accessing VET at St Francis Xavier College

There are three types of VET programs offered through St Francis Xavier College to enhance your learning pathway options.

Type 1:  VCE-VET Courses – Available to VCE and VCE VM Hybrid Students only

These are delivered on campus and contribute units towards the VCE.  These subjects are delivered over two years on the Beaconsfield Campus. The first year of these courses are equivalent to Units 1 and 2 of the VCE and the second year are equivalent to Units 3 and 4. These subjects are scored under the VCE and so will contribute to the ATAR. Access them here.

Type 2:  VET Courses (available at Year 10 only)

These courses are completed over one year and do not have a VCE component or a study score.  These courses are suited to students who are hands on learners.  These courses are delivered on the Beaconsfield Campus. Access them here.

Type 3: Externally provided VET Courses (Year 11 & 12) 

This program is for students who are studying the VCE VM Program in Years 11 and 12 (or other students under exceptional circumstances). VET is a mandatory requirement for the VCE VM and if students do not attain a minimum of 180 hours of training, they will not successfully complete their VCE VM.

VET Courses Offered through external providers. 

St Francis Xavier College has an approved list of external VET providers. These include:

  • SELLEN – Local Secondary Schools
  • Chisholm
  • Foundation Learning Centre
  • Skillinvest
  • TAFE Gippsland
  • AGA
  • And others

Students can select a VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VET DSS) course of their choice from a list of those available in 2026 (see below). We will then look for course availability from a range of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). Please note that some courses may be delivered at the College by an external training provider. In these cases, all rules and requirements of the training provider apply. The College will do it’s best to find a provider who is able to meet the individual needs of the students. Students need to be prepared to travel to access their chosen VET program.

VETDSS course availability varies greatly. Some in demand courses are much harder to source places in, so it’s advised that students identify several courses that may be of interest. Highly sought courses include Electrotechnology, Plumbing and Building and Construction.

Externally Provided VET – Application Process

  1. Students are to choose from the list of courses offered below
  2. Students are to complete the VCE VM VET application form and get the appropriate endorsement as listed on the form
  3. All Year 11 students entering VCE VM will require an interview with the VET Coordinator Mrs. Beaucasin and may also need to meet with a career’s counsellor about appropriate VET pathways prior to submitting their VET application. Bookings can be made with Mrs. Beaucasin and the Careers team through the career’s website.
  4. Year 12 students new to VCE VM with need to meet with a career’s counsellor about appropriate VET pathways prior to submitting their VET application form. Those students interested in pursuing a trade should discuss a School Based Apprenticeship option with Mrs. Carter in Careers as this will increase their chances of securing the VET course of their choice.
  5. Students continuing with their current course, must submit a VET application form for 2026 otherwise, they will not be re enrolled as it is not an automatic re enrolment
  6. VET applications need to be submitted by 13th June otherwise we cannot guarantee that you will be able to secure a VET course.

The following is a list of courses that students may be able to access from external training providers. The College VET team will support students to find an appropriate provider to meet their needs. This list is accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change.

Click on the subject links below to read a summary of each certificate through one of the available providers
*Please note: the provider that you link through to may not be the provider through which you study the qualification.

VET 2026 VETDSS Courses available through external providers

Priority VDSS pathways

Health

Community Services and Early Childhood Education

Certificate II in Active Volunteering offers students the opportunity to acquire entry level skills for volunteer work.

Certificate III in Community Services incorporating Certificate II in Community Service offers students the opportunity to learn about the community services sector and explore specific contexts of work. Skills will be developed in communication, working with diversity, workplace health and safety, administration support, and responding to clients.

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (partial completion) offers students the opportunity to support the implementation of an approved learning framework and support children’s wellbeing, learning and development.

Building and Construction

Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship is designed to provide learners with skills and knowledge to undertake an apprenticeship within building and construction industry sectors. The combined skills and knowledge of the pre-apprenticeship course is intended to prepare individuals for further training.

The course includes units that introduce the learner to the application of specific materials, tools and equipment, and techniques used in specific trade sectors, that underpin Certificate III qualifications in the following trade sectors: Bricklaying, Carpentry, Painting and decorating, Wall and ceiling lining, Wall and floor tiling, Solid plastering, Stonemasonry and Joinery/shopfitting/stair building.

Certificate II in Construction Pathways: provides a pathway to the primary trades in the construction industry with the exception of plumbing. Trade outcomes are predominantly achieved through an Australian apprenticeship and this certificate allows for inclusion of skills suited for entry to off-site occupations, such as joinery and shopfitting, as well as carpentry, bricklaying and other occupations in general construction. This certificate is designed to introduce learners to the recognised trade callings in the construction industry and provide meaningful credit in a construction industry Australian apprenticeship.

 

Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship)

Certificate II in Civil Construction aims to provide learners with basic industry specific skills and knowledge to enable the transition into an apprenticeship or traineeship within the resources and infrastructure industries at the certificate III level. This qualification consists of a core of common cross sector units of competency that provide skills and knowledge in carrying out basic measurements and calculations, communicating in the workplace, carrying out manual excavations, interpreting basic plans and drawings, controlling traffic, operating small plant and equipment, and workplace safety practices onsite. The course also includes a range of units that introduce the learner to the application of specific materials, tools and equipment, and techniques used in road infrastructure, water infrastructure, plant operations and civil operations.

Digital Media and Technologies

Hospitality

Clean Energy and Engineering

Certificate II in Engineering

Certificate III in Laboratory Skills

Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) offers students the opportunity to develop competencies for a work entry program providing grounding in safety and basic skills and knowledge for work in any electrotechnology discipline.

Certificate II in Electrotechnology Studies (Pre-vocational) Victorian accredited curriculum that offers students the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge across a range of electrical sectors, including electrical, electronics, refrigeration and mechanical engineering.

Flexible VDSS pathways

Automotive

Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation covers the skills and knowledge required to perform minor maintenance and repair of an automotive vehicle body. The range of technical skills and knowledge is limited. This qualification reflects the role of individuals who perform a limited range of tasks relating to identifying and inspecting mechanical and electrical components and systems of light vehicles, heavy vehicles, outdoor power equipment, bicycles, marine craft and motorcycles.

Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Certificate II in Agriculture: provides an entry level occupational outcome in agriculture. The qualification enables individuals to select a livestock production or cropping context as a job focus or, in the case of mixed farming enterprises, both. Job roles vary across different industry sectors and may include assistant animal attendant or stockperson, assistant farm or station hand, assistant farm or station worker.

Certificate II in Horticulture underpins a range of work functions and job roles that can lead to a horticultural trade qualification. Employment opportunities may include nursery worker, assistant landscaper, assistant parks or gardens worker.

Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management: provides the skills and knowledge required for work in a defined context and/or for further study in conservation and ecosystem management. The qualification enables individuals to select and develop basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge in conservation and ecosystem management for Indigenous land management, lands, parks and wildlife services and the restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems. Employment opportunities may include assistant land management officer, assistant conservation worker, assistant parks and wildlife officer.

Animal Care

Certificate II in Animal Care provides students with the skills and knowledge to enter the animal care and management industry. Employment opportunities reflect roles such as animal care attendant, animal shelter attendant, kennel attendant, pet shop attendant and assistant dog groomer.

Hair and Beauty

Applied Fashion Design & Technology

Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology provides an introductory overview of skills applied in the fashion industry. It includes skills used in the design and production of garments and millinery.

Certificate II in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles provides an introductory overview of the entry-level workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industry who perform basic and defined work tasks involving known routines and procedures under supervision. This qualification is typically used to develop basic employment related skills and knowledge including preparatory access and participation skills and/or specific workplace skills that relate to an individual sector. Specialisations and/or elective selections allow for the tailoring of this qualification to achieve basic skill outcomes in different areas of apparel, fashion and textile work.

Certificate II in Creative Industries provides students with a pathway to a variety of creative industries. Core units of competency include developing and applying creative arts industry knowledge, working with others and work health and safety practices. To complete the certificate, a broad range of electives are available in broadcasting, lighting, animation and digital effects, web design, basic vision and sound editing, props and set construction.

Certificate III in Screen and Media provides students with a pathway to a variety of creative industries. Units 3 and 4 offer scored assessment and incorporate units such as 2D digital animations, writing content for a range of media, authoring interactive sequences and creating visual design components.

Certificate II in Music

Certificate III in Music (Performance)

Certificate III in Music (Sound Production)

Certificate III in Dance: this qualification reflects the role of those working as entry level dancers in the live performance industry. Learners are expected to demonstrate the application of foundational skills and knowledge for routine activities expected for dance and live performance contexts. Job roles that relate to this qualification may include ensemble dancer.

Certificate III in Visual Arts

Sport and Recreation

Business

Certificate II in Workplace Skills is an entry level qualification which provides students with the knowledge and skills to enhance their employment prospects in a business or office environment. The certificate provides an understanding of business fundamentals within the Australian context and will assist students to gain employment opportunities in an entry level administrative or customer service role.

Certificate III in Business provides students with the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge to work in a variety of work contexts using discretion, judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge.

Transportation

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